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The Premier League is home to some of the world's best footballing talents. Fans have been treated to several top players over the years, with their pedigree only increasing with time.
England's top flight has seen playmakers of various types. While the game has evolved over the years, so have the players. With the inception of the Premier League Playmaker of the Year award in the 2017-18 season, more emphasis has been given to players who create chances than earlier before.
Take a look at the top five playmakers with the most assists in a single season.
#5. Cesc Fabregas | Chelsea - 2014-15 (18)
Cesc Fabregas will go down in history as a bonafide Premier League legend.
Certainly a legend of the modern game, Fabregas made his name with Arsenal before going on to play for Barcelona, Chelsea and Monaco.
The Spanish playmaker was Arsenal's captain for a long time and will be fondly remembered by fans worldwide. Known for his incredibly creative passes, Fabregas is an extremely versatile midfielder.
Capable of playing on either side of the midfield, Fabregas flourished when deployed as an attacking midfielder. His stats speak for themselves: Fabregas has notched up a mammoth 209 assists over the course of his career.
His most productive season came in 2014-15 when he formed a devastating partnership with compatriot Diego Costa at Chelsea. Fabregas recorded 18 assists across the campaign while Costa scored 20 goals for the Blues.
Fabregas went on to win the Premier League with Chelsea, a feat he could never achieve with the Gunners. Currently 34, Fabregas plays for Monaco in Ligue 1.
#4. Kevin de Bruyne | Manchester City - 2016-17 (18)
Kevin de Bruyne is one of the best playmakers in the world.
Signed from Wolfsburg in 2015, De Bruyne has taken the Premier League by storm with his creative ability. Known for his playmaking skills, De Bruyne can regularly be seen finding teammates in goalscoring positions.
Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, De Bruyne has already racked up 191 career assists since his debut. He is a regular on the assists charts and definitely one of the best players in Manchester City's history.
Since joining City, De Bruyne has won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cups. The 2016-17 edition of the Premier League saw De Bruyne record an impressive 18 assists with the Cityzens.
Although City didn't win the league that year, De Bruyne recorded a sublime feat in just his second season in the Premier League. He continues to impress at both club and country level.
#3. Mesut Ozil | Arsenal - 2015-16 (19)
Mesut Ozil is widely regarded as one of the best playmakers in football history.
The German has enjoyed an extremely successful career with Werder Bremen, Real Madrid and Arsenal. Reputed for his ability to see a pass where no one else can, Ozil's ability can only be described as phenomenal.
Ozil enjoyed two successful years with Bremen before moving to Real Madrid in 2010. At Madrid, Ozil enjoyed three successful years where he formed a devastating partnership with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
In 2013, Ozil was signed by Arsenal and took his chance with aplomb. Ozil spent eight long years with the Gunners, racking up 77 assists and 44 goals in the process. Although the end of his spell with Arsenal was marred by controversy, there is no doubt he is regarded as a club legend for his contributions.
Ozil has had an immensely successful career, even winning the FIFA World Cup with Germany in 2014. One of his most memorable achievements was the 2015-16 Premier League campaign with Arsenal when he racked up an unbelievable 19 assists over the course of the season.
Although Leicester went on to win the league, Ozil made history with this feat and cemented his place in Premier League history.
#2. Kevin de Bruyne | Manchester City - 2019-20 (20)
Kevin de Bruyne has the joint-highest assists of any playmaker in a single season in the Premier League.
A regular on the list, De Bruyne has already won two Premier League Playmaker of the Season awards since its genesis in 2018. While De Bruyne has recorded 18 assists in a separate season, his highest-ever record in a single season is 20.
De Bruyne managed the record-leveling feat in the 2019-20 season with Manchester City, enabling the Cityzens to finish second in the Premier League. While it is well-known that Liverpool won the league that year, De Bruyne etched his name in Premier League history, tying the record for most assists in a single edition.
With the 30-year-old contracted until 2023, it remains to be seen if he can surpass his own record and hold the outright record for most assists in one season.
#1. Thierry Henry | Arsenal - 2002-03 (20).
Thierry Henry is arguably one of the best players in Premier League history.
The Arsenal legend signed from Juventus in 1999 and spent eight successful years with the Gunners before moving to Barcelona. Henry has won every major trophy during his career and is widely regarded as one of the best attackers in football history.
In a career spread across France, Italy, England, Spain and the USA, Henry went on to establish himself in all the world's top football leagues. Henry has an impressive trophy cabinet: He has won league titles in England and Spain and also the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona.
Henry also won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France and finished runner-up in 2006. The 2002-03 season was certainly one of Henry's most memorable outings.
Henry achieved a record 20 assists that season, even scoring 24 goals the same year. Although Henry's contributions were not enough to win the Premier League that year, he managed to finish second in the running for the Ballon d'Or.
Currently the assistant coach with the Belgian national team, Henry will be proud of his record that has held for over 19 years.
